Summary

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £1 million to research, test and develop step-change circular economy approaches.

This funding forms part of the UKRI National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research programme (NICER), enabling SMEs to engage with and benefit from access to expertise at five research centres via collaborative research and development activities.

The aim of this competition is to support feasibility studies, industrial research and experimental development that address the challenges of transitioning to a circular economy.

Your proposal must demonstrate how you will create a step-change in the adoption of circular economy approaches.

Eligibility

Your project must:

·       have total eligible costs between £50,000 and £100,000

·       start no earlier than 1 April 2022

·       end by 31 March 2023

·       last between 9 and 12 months

·       carry out all of its project work in the UK

·       intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

You must either include at least one of the UKRI Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres as a project partner, or include a letter of support from one of the centres.

For feasibility studies and industrial research projects, you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:

·       up to 70%if you are a micro or small organisation

·       up to 60%if you are a medium-sized organisation

For experimental development projects which are nearer to market, you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:

·       up to 45%if you are a micro or small organisation

·       up to 35%if you are a medium-sized organisation

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